PM Lawrence Wong at the 2026 Bo’ao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference

Chairman of the National People’s Congress Mr Zhao Leji
Chairman of the Bo’ao Forum for Asia Mr Ban Ki-moon
Distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

I am delighted to be here in Hainan Island for the first time and to join you for this 25^th anniversary of the Bo’ao Forum for Asia.

This milestone comes at a time of profound change in the world. Hence the theme of this year’s conference – on “new dynamics, new opportunities, and new cooperation” – and it is a theme that is both timely and pressing. 

New Dynamics

We are seeing these new dynamics unfold all around us. The foundations that have sustained decades of global stability are under severe strain.

The war in Ukraine is entering its fifth year. The conflict in the Middle East is in its fourth week and may well drag on. These wars have claimed many lives and inflicted immense suffering on populations. 

They are not distant events – they have real consequences for all of us, driving up food and energy prices, disrupting supply chains and raising the risks of a global economic slowdown. 

More fundamentally, we are witnessing a worrying breakdown of the institutions and norms that have long anchored the global system. For decades, international law and multilateral rules provided guardrails for states’ behaviour. They did not eliminate conflict, but they tempered it and brought a measure of predictability to international relations.

Today, those guardrails are weakening. International relations are increasingly shaped by geopolitical rivalry and zero-sum thinking. States feel less bound by rules, and more inclined to act whenever they have the power to do so. Small and middle-sized countries feel this most acutely. But even large powers will find that a world where the strong do as they please is ultimately more dangerous for all. When rules give way to raw power, order breaks down, and no country — big or small — is truly secure.

These geopolitical shifts are spilling over into the economic domain.  For nearly eight decades, the global economy prioritised efficiency – integrating markets, and optimising production across borders. That model is being reworked. Resilience and security are taking precedence. Countries are moving to reduce dependencies and reconfigure how they engage with the global economy.

All this makes it harder to address shared global challenges. Whether it is tackling climate change or ensuring the safe and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence – progress on these matters depends on collective global action. But in today’s environment, it has become far harder to find consensus. As a result, our problems are building up, and compounding into more serious risks for all. 

New Forms of Cooperation

Given this context, how do we move forward? 

In the past, our instinct was to seek broad, multilateral arrangements. These remain important. But in today’s more complex and fractured world, multilateral agreements are extremely hard to reach. Yet given the challenges we face, we cannot afford to wait for every country to move together – at the same time and at the same speed. 

So we must find new ways to cooperate. To be clear, this does not mean abandoning multilateralism. On the contrary, we must continue to strengthen and reform global institutions — including the WTO and the United Nations — so that they remain effective and relevant. 

But alongside these efforts, we also need more flexible approaches to cooperation. One practical way is for smaller groups of like-minded countries and partners to create plurilateral arrangements. These can move faster – to test ideas, set standards and deliver results.  

We already see this practical and pragmatic approach at work. Agreements like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RECEP) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) are advancing economic integration; while the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) is breaking new ground in digital trade.

These are not exclusive clubs. They are open and inclusive frameworks that set high standards, and that others can join when they are ready. And in this way, they complement – rather than replace – the multilateral system. 

So in practice, we are likely to see a landscape of multiple, overlapping coalitions – different groupings of countries working together on specific challenges. This may not be the ideal model for global cooperation. But in today’s circumstances, it is a practical way to move forward, and to sustain momentum. And if designed well, these coalitions can complement and reinforce one another, and serve as building blocks for a more resilient global architecture over time. 

China’s Role

As we build this new generation of pathfinders, China will play a critical role – given its growing economic weight and increasing capacity to shape global outcomes. 

China has placed science, technology and innovation at the centre of its development strategy. It is already at the forefront in key emerging areas, including digital and green technologies.  More importantly, it is advancing innovation at scale – accelerating adoption and driving progress across industries. China is therefore well positioned not just to participate in the next wave of technological change, but to shape and lead this change.

At the same time, we see growing global interest in Chinese culture and innovation – from films, music and games, to consumer brands and digital platforms. This is especially evident among younger audiences around the world, and reflects China’s expanding influence in both the creative and digital economies. 

With its growing capabilities, China has contributed to global development, for example through platforms like the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Belt and Road Initiative. Singapore supported both initiatives early because we recognised their potential to enhance connectivity, generate opportunities, and uplift communities across the region. 

China has also taken steps to assume greater responsibilities in the international system. It has voluntarily given up certain WTO developing-country benefits, and indicated its readiness to shoulder obligations commensurate with its level of development.

Beyond this, China continues to contribute ideas to global discussions, through its “Community with a Shared Future” and four key global initiatives on development, security, civilisation and governance. These reflect China’s growing engagement in shaping the global agenda. Singapore welcomes this constructive engagement, and will work with China in areas of shared interest, including on sustainable development and global governance.

Singapore also believes that China can play an even bigger role in supporting regional prosperity and stability. China’s vast domestic market can be a powerful engine of growth for the region. China’s 15^th Five-Year Plan, with its greater emphasis on domestic consumption, points in this direction and will create new opportunities for the region. 

China can also help shape the region’s evolving economic architecture. At a time of growing fragmentation, the world needs strong advocates for open and rules-based trade. Here in Hainan, the Free Trade port stands as a concrete example of China’s commitment to openness. And we hope China will continue in this direction – supporting open markets, and strengthening confidence in a predictable and stable global trading system. 

In emerging domains, China’s scale and capabilities also position it to influence new rules and standards in emerging domains. We recognise and value China’s efforts, including through its current chairmanship of APEC, to advance trade digitalisation and AI for trade. China’s active participation in global discussions on AI governance will also be critical to building international consensus on the safe and responsible development of these technologies.

Partnerships for Regional Growth

Looking ahead, Singapore has confidence in China’s long-term prospects. That is why we have been a leading source of new investments into China for more than a decade. We will continue to partner China closely, and deepen collaboration in areas of mutual benefit as both our economies evolve.

We will also work with China to deepen its integration into regional economic frameworks. In particular, we support and welcome China’s interest in joining CPTPP and DEPA. Integrating an economy of China’s scale into these agreements is not straightforward. But doing so will bring significant benefits to the region, and strengthen the relevance of these high-standard arrangements. 

We also see tremendous potential for deeper cooperation between China and ASEAN. The recent upgrade of the ASEAN–China Free Trade Agreement will further strengthen our economic links. And there are opportunities to collaborate on shared challenges – for example, leveraging China’s strength in renewable energy to support ASEAN’s energy transition, including through initiatives like the ASEAN Power Grid. 

When Singapore assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship next year, we will work with fellow member states to deepen regional integration and strengthen partnerships. In Asia, we will work closely with partners like China, Japan, Korea and India. Beyond the region, we will expand engagement with key partners, including the Gulf Cooperation Council and the European Union. Through these efforts, we will keep ASEAN open, connected, and a driver of growth and cooperation in the global economy.

Conclusion

The 25^th anniversary of the Bo’ao Forum reminds us how far Asia has come through openness, cooperation, and shared progress.

The new dynamics of our time understandably cause anxiety and uncertainty. But they also open up new possibilities – for innovation, growth and renewal. Whether we realise these opportunities will depend on our ability to work together – practically, flexibly, and constructively.

Ultimately, Asia’s future will not be determined by circumstance, but by the choices we make. We can drift towards rivalry and fragmentation. Or we can choose cooperation and openness. If we choose well, Asia can continue to be a source of stability, dynamism, and hope for the future. And the next 25 years can be even more remarkable than the last. This future is within our reach. Let us build it together.  Thank you very much.

*****

尊敬的全国人大常委会委员长赵乐际先生

博鳌亚洲论坛理事长潘基文先生

各位嘉宾                                                                         

女士们、先生们：

我很荣幸能与各位一起出席博鳌亚洲论坛25周年年会。

在论坛迈入银禧的里程碑之际，世界正面临前所未有的变化。因此，本届论坛以“塑造共同未来：新形势、新机遇、新合作”为主题，可谓十分切合时宜。

国际新局势

目前的全球局势变幻莫测，维持全球数十年稳定发展的体系，正面临严峻的考验。

乌克兰战争已步入第五个年头，而持续了四周的中东冲突短期内可能也难以结束。战火摧毁了无数生命，给人们造成了难以言喻的苦难。

这些战争并非离我们遥远,而是对所有人都有实际的影响。战争既推高了粮食和能源价格，又扰乱了供应链，还加剧了全球经济放缓的风险。

更令人担忧的是，我们正在目睹长期维系全球体系的制度和规范面临崩解。数十年来，国际法和多边规则为国家行为提供了约束机制。尽管这些机制不能完全制止冲突爆发，但它们在一定程度上缓和了冲突，并使国际关系具备了一定的可预测性。

如今，这些约束正被削弱。国际关系日益受到地缘政治博弈及零和思维的左右。各国不再觉得规则具有以往的约束力，更倾向以强权行事。在这样的环境下，中小型国家所承受的冲击最为明显；就连大国也会发觉，一个强者为王的世界对所有人来说，终究会更险峻。当规则让位于赤裸裸的武力时，国际秩序便会崩溃，任何国家，无论大小，都难以独善其身。

地缘政治的变动正蔓延至经济领域。近80年来，全球经济一直以效率为优先，通过整合市场及优化跨境生产，取得发展。如今，这样的模式正在改变。大家更注重韧性和安全。各国都在减少对他国的依赖，并重新规划参与全球经济的方式。

这一切使我们更难以携手克服共同的全球性挑战。无论是应对气候变化，还是确保人工智能的安全与负责任使用，都需要各国共同努力才能取得进展。然而，在当下环境中，达成共识已愈发困难。这将衍生更多的问题，长久下来，全球将面临更为严峻的风险。

新合作模式

在这样的格局下，我们应该如何前进呢？

过去，我们总会先寻求最广泛的多边解决方案。虽然这种方式仍十分重要，但随着全球环境日益复杂和分化，各国已更难达成共识。面对眼前挑战，我们无法等到所有国家达到共识才行动。

因此，我们需要探索新的合作模式。这不意味着我们就此放弃多边主义。反之，我们应该继续强化和完善国际组织，包括世界贸易组织和联合国等，以确保机制仍然行之有效并合时宜。

与此同时，我们也要不断探索更加灵活的合作模式。其中一种可行方式，是与志同道合的国家共同发起诸边倡议，这能让国家更快速地采取行动，来试点新举措、制定标准并取得成效。

一些国家已开始践行这种务实的倡议，例如在推进经济整合方面，我们有了区域全面经济伙伴关系协定（RCEP）以及跨太平洋伙伴全面进展协定（CPTPP）。我们也有了数码经济伙伴关系协定（DEPA），让伙伴国可以在数码贸易中创造新机遇。

这些倡议并非专属“俱乐部”。实际上，它们致力于制定高水平、且开放和包容的框架，愿意加入的国家也能参与。如此，方能与现有的多边体系相辅相成，而非取而代之。

未来的世界格局或许会由多重及相互交织的合作关系所形成。各国组成不同的合作模式，共同应对特定挑战。这样的国际合作模式或许并非理想，但以当今局势而言，这也许是最实际的。若设计得当，这些诸边合作模式将能相辅相成，随着时间的推移，可为更坚韧的全球框架奠定基础。

中国可扮演的角色

随着中国经济实力及重塑全球格局的能力持续增长，它在构建新合作模式方面可发挥举足轻重的作用。

中国将引领国家发展的主轴着重在科学、科技及创新，并已在数码及绿色科技等关键新兴领域领先。更重要的是，中国也在大规模推动创新，加快科技的应用，推动整体企业的发展。中国不仅有能力积极参与全球接下来的科技转型，更能塑造并引领这新一轮的科技浪潮。

此外，从影视作品、音乐到游戏，以及消费品牌和数码平台，世界各地也对中国文化及创新越来越感兴趣，年轻受众群体更是如此。这反映了中国在创意及数码经济领域的影响力日益扩大。

中国凭自身的实力，通过亚洲基础设施投资银行和“一带一路”倡议等平台，为全球发展作出贡献。新加坡是这两项倡议的早期支持者，因为我们看到它们有潜力加强互联互通、创造机遇，并提升区域人民的福祉。

中国也已采取行动，在国际社会承担更大的责任。中国自愿放弃世贸组织为发展中国家提供的特殊和差别待遇，并表示愿意履行与自身发展相称的国际义务。

除此之外，中国持续为全球议题讨论做出贡献。中国所倡导的“人类命运共同体”理念，以及从发展、安全、文明、治理四个维度着手的四大全球倡议，体现了中国参与塑造全球议程的积极性。新加坡对这具有建设性的交流表示欢迎，并期待在可持续发展及全球治理等共同利益方面的领域与中国携手合作。

展望未来，新加坡相信中国可以在促进区域繁荣与稳定方面发挥更大的作用。中国庞大的国内市场可以成为推动区域增长的重要引擎。中国第15个五年规划“十五五”着重于国内消费，也会为区域创造新机遇。

中国也可以参与塑造本区域经济结构的蜕变。如今，在全球趋势逐渐碎片化的背景下，世界需要强有力的声音来倡导开放及以规则为基础的贸易体系。我们现在身处海南，这里的自由贸易港就是中方致力维护开放贸易的良好例子。我们期待中国能继续朝这方向发展，支持开放市场，并为稳定及可预测的全球贸易体系注入信心。

在新兴领域中，中国也有规模与能力影响其新规则及标准的构造。我们认同并重视中方在这方面所做出的努力，其中就包括中国作为现任亚太经济合作组织主席国所推动的贸易数码化和人工智能贸易应用。中国积极参与有关人工智能治理的全球讨论，对于建立国际共识以实现安全、负责任的科技发展至关重要。

促进区域增长的合作伙伴关系

放眼未来，新加坡对中国的长期增长依然充满信心。因此，在过去的十多年来，新加坡一直是中国最大的新增外资来源国。随着两国经济结构的演变，新加坡将继续与中国保持紧密伙伴关系，并在推动经济发展的过程中，探索互赢领域，深化合作。

新加坡也支持中国深入参与区域的经济框架。其中，我们欢迎中国加入跨太平洋伙伴全面进展协定和数码经济伙伴关系协定。虽然让中国这样大规模经济体加入这些协定并非易事， 但这能为本区域带来显著可观的效益，同时也能强化协定的高标准。

中国与亚细安在深化合作关系方面，也有巨大的潜力。近期升级的亚细安－中国自由贸易协定将进一步加强彼此的经济联系。同时，双方在应对共同挑战方面也有不少合作机会。例如，中国可通过亚细安电网计划等项目，运用自身在可再生能源领域的优势，帮助亚细安实现能源转型。

明年，新加坡将接任亚细安轮值主席国。届时，我们希望和其他成员国携手巩固区域一体化及加强合作关系。在亚洲，我们会与中国、日本、韩国、印度等伙伴国紧密合作；在本区域以外，我们也将拓展和其他重要伙伴的合作，包括欧盟和海湾阿拉伯国家合作委员会。我们会通过这些举措来确保亚细安保持开放、互联互通，并继续推动全球经济增长与合作。

结论

博鳌亚洲论坛成立至今已踏入第25年，一路走来，亚洲通过开放、合作与共进退，已取得了耀眼的成就。

目前变化莫测的局势难免会带来焦虑和不确定性，但这其中也蕴含着创新、发展及新机遇。我们能否发掘这些机遇，取决于我们务实、灵活和具有建设性的集体协作能力。

亚洲的未来，取决于我们作出的决定，而非处境。我们可选择分化和斗争，或选择相互合作，保持开放。如果做对了选择，亚洲就能继续为世界带来稳定、活力和希望，未来的25年必将更闪耀。这样的未来并不遥远。让我们齐心协力，同心共筑美好未来！